Young cyclists gear up to take title

Young cyclists gear up to take title

Fourteen students from across the region will don their helmets and hit the roads of Palmerston North next Friday 6 December in a bid to become Central District’s Young Cyclist of the Year.

Now in its 14th year, the competition involves a mix of theory, practical skills and road testing led by Police youth education officers with support from Horizons Regional Council’s road safety team.

Senior Constable Allan Wright says competing students are all aged between 10 and 13 and have already proven themselves at a local level, with the best boy and girl chosen to compete from Wanganui, Palmerston North, Tararua, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Rangitikei and Ruapehu.

“The regional final is the culmination of a year’s worth of work by youth education officers in the area of road safety. Horizons’ road safety coordinators will be on-hand to assist on the day, with prizes awarded for first, second and third place.

“Bikes and gear will be checked on arrival to ensure safety. We’ll also be running competitors through a skills test and a helmet fitting test.

"Approximately 30 Police staff from around the Central District are involved in the event and we have also had some fantastic support from the community and the NZTA," he says.

The 3km road ride will take students through 15 intersections including give ways, traffic lights, roundabouts and uncontrolled intersections. Police officers will be stationed at every intersection to mark competitors on their ability to check for traffic and follow road rules as well as bike control and confidence.

“We have a number of budding cyclists in our region and this competition is a great way to celebrate that while enhancing students’ skills and promoting cycle safety,” she says.

“All students are provided with a map of the road course upon selection and at this stage any one of the 14 could take the title. They’re all very competent young cyclists and it’s always a fun day out.”

The competition is being held at Barber Hall in Waldegrave Street, Palmerston North between 9.30am and 12.30pm followed by a prize giving at Central District Police Headquarters in Cuba Street.

ENDS

Photo op:

Students will complete their skills test outside Barber Hall in intervals from 11.15am as they arrive back from the road test. Prizegiving will be held at Police Headquarters in Cuba Street at approximately 1pm.